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In Pictures: Tracking oil theft in Nigeria

Al Jazeera travels with a special task force to track down oil theft that costs Nigeria billions of dollars.

Oil theft in Nigeria is at its highest levels in five years, since the government gave amnesty to former rebels in the area.
By Rawya Rageh
Published On 8 Sep 2014

Setting off at the break of dawn, a special task force made up of various security agencies head out on a mission to track down oil thieves in the Niger Delta.

Oil theft in Nigeria costs the country an estimated $8bn in revenue every year. The level of theft is so high that some multinationals are pulling out, and reducing their onshore presence in the country. 

As a result, Nigeria is now facing its worst oil crisis in years.

The crude oil is refined bunkered on barges and then sent via tankers in the Atlantic to buyers in West Africa, Europe and even Asia. 

An operation so wide, and large, the workers here are only on one end of a vast criminal network. 

Al Jazeera’s Rawya Rageh travelled with the special task team in the Bayelsa state. 

It is a dangerous trade, as explosions could happen at any moment and the fire can extend kilometres over the water.
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Workers say they are driven to the oil-theft business because of a lack of jobs.
On a good day, the workers doing the dirty job can make $200.
Activists monitoring the industry say connected individuals and security personnel are involved.
Despite low-level arrests, there have been no serious large-scale prosecutions.
Until those at the helm of the illegal trade are held to account, Nigeria(***)s riches will keep burning away.
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